Footwear exports to reach 47mil pair

Vietnam is set to export 470mil pairs of shoes in 2005, earning an estimated US$3.1bil.

The Ministry of Industry said sports and women’s shoes produced in Vietnam are competitive in international markets, especially in the US and EU market.

Japan, Russia, South East Asian countries, Eastern Europe, The Middle East and Africa are all viewed as potential markets.

Goods handled through ports up 12%

Goods volume handled by 40 seaports across Vietnam increased 12% per year during the 2001-2003 period, according to the Vietnam Port Association (VPA).

From now until 2010, VPA planned to invest US$1bil to upgrade 30 large ports including Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, Da Nang, the new port of Saigon, Phu My and other ports in the central region of the country, Ba Ria Vung Tau, and ports in the Mekong Delta.

Investment aims to increase waterway transportation for the nation’s industrialisation and modernisation process.

Vocational courses open for young ethnics

Recently, Central Highlands Kon Tum Province’s Vocational Training School opened a vocational training course for 100 young ethnic minority people in the province. Each trainee receives VND600,000 per month.

This is the second course of the school for ethnic minority youths. In the 2003-2004, the school opened an electronics engineering class for 40 ethnic minority youths. In addition, the school have opened short-term courses for local young people.

(Source: Nhan Dan, TBKTVN)